GTA awards 21 tourism practitioners in Volta Region.
The Volta Regional Tourism Awards has been held at Tadzewu in the Akatsi South district with a total of 21 practitioners in the tourism industry awarded in various categories.
Advertisement
There were 13 award winners in the competitive categories and eight of them as special recognition awards.
Award winners
The competitive awards were Chances Hotel at Ho as the best three star hotel, Freedom Hotel in Ho as best two star hotel and Wilkado Lodge at Tadzewu as best one star hotel and the Ronna guest house at Adidome as the best budget hotel.
Always Always at Kpando was adjudged the best traditional caterer, Obama Gardens at Hohoe as best drinking bar, Mr Francis Kwame Acquaye of Tafi Atome as best site guide, Volta Premier radio station of Ho Polytechnic as the tourism oriented media in radio category, Afadjato/ Tagbo Falls at Liate-Wote as visitor attraction of the year.
The Socom Lodge at Sogakope was awarded as consistent tourism development and Avu Lagoon Ecotourism as exemplary award for sustainable ecotourism.
The special recognition awards were Mr Joe Ayivor of Home Limited in Ho as support for tourism development and promotion, Ve Lukusi improvement society as support for domestic tourism promotion, Mr Frank Kojo Tetteh of Rabazey spot of Ho as support for tourism promotion, Mr Prince Ahiadzro of White Hotel as support for tourism training.
Others who received certificates of appreciation were, Mr Stephen Goe of Sky Plus in Ho, Ms Vivian Mortey of Kekeli Hotel in Ho, Ms Priscilla Tokpo of Hotel Stevens in Ho and Volta Talent Hunt artistes in Ho.
Tourism awards to mainstream excellence
Addressing the occasion, an official of the Ghana Tourism Authority(GTA), Ben Anane Nsiah said the tourism awards were aimed at mainstreaming excellence into the tourism industry with the view of coming out with product excellence.
He said tourism had become a fortune for all nations and that the gains of the value chain associated with it require the setting of new benchmarks in order to maintain standards and to compete in the increasing global competition.
Mr Nsiah projected that the industry had earmarked to earn $8 million from the arrival of four million to tourists next year.
Tourism as intangible export commodity
In an address on her behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso said tourism was an intangible export commodity and must not be compromised with the imitation of foreign cultures.
She said tourism practitioners should concentrate on best practices as regards the conservation of natural resources available in the region. The Volta Regional Director of GTA, Mr Kwame Gyasi said the Volta Region represented a unique cultural heritage with distinct vegetation zones , the sea, mountains , waterfalls , ancestral caves, historic buildings, sacred groves and the Volta Lake .
He therefore said tourism had the unique advantage of generating income at every level ensuring uniformity and conformity to standards. “Wherever tourists find themselves, they expect to have a great experience and this region had the potential to deliver” he said.